Names of Fallen Firefighters Added to USFA Roster

The names of five firefighters killed in the line of duty have been added to the roster maintained by the U.S. Fire Administration.

This brings to 103 the number of firefighters who gave the ultimate sacrifice this year compared to 115 in 2005.

The names of the fallen heroes were obtained following a USFA review of Public Safety Officers' Benefit (PSOB) documents.

"Part of our ongoing process is to review the files of PSOB, the NFPA, and National Fallen Firefighters' Foundation," said Mark Whitney, fire program specialist with the National Fire Data Center. "We cross-check lists to make sure no one is omitted."

Next week, the USFA will be sending information to every state fire marshals' office to ensure that all the fallen heroes are acknowledged. A report on the 2006 deaths will be compiled early next year.

However, reports show that heart attacks continue to be the leading cause of firefighter deaths.

The names added Tuesday by the USFA include:

Jack Eugene Arnold, 48, North Carolina Division of Forestry Resources, had been preparing an area prior to wildfire season. He collapsed in his vehicle after purchasing equipment.

Harold Taylor, 65, assistant chief of Central Warren County Fire Protection District, Kirkwood, Ill., fell ill after responding to the station for a call. He collapsed at his house where he had returned to change clothes.

Donald B. Lalosh, 49, of Roxbury Vol. Fire Dept., collapsed while marching in a St. Patrick's Day parade.